Molasses pitcher or holder.



PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

V. B. NUGKOLS. MOLASSES PITOHER OR HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28,1907.

VIRGIL B. NL'OKOLS, OF ELKTON, KENTUCKY.

MOLASSES PITCHER OR HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application filed May 28, 1907. Serial No. 376,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIRGIL B. NUCKOLS, a cltlzen 'of the United States, residing at Elk-ton, in the county of Todd and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Molasses Pitcher or Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to molasses pitchers or holders.

The present article is designed as an improvement on a cutoff for molasses jugs for which Letters-Patent of the United States were granted me June 29, 1900, No. 652,682, and m which there is shown a metallic externally threaded band applied to the jug or holder that is engaged by an internally threaded flange on the cutoff cap, and by wh ch means the two parts are assembled. TlllS arrangement, while thoroughly effective for use 1n connection with metallic jugs, is not adaptedfor application to a glass or earthen ware itcher or holder for the reason that an effective and wear-resisting assemblage of the band with the holder cannot easily be effective. Furthermore, by the arrange ment disclosed in the patent, the finger-piece by which the cutoff is operated to open the discharge opening, is caused always, when the cap is seated, to occupy one position relatively to the handle of the jug, the same being true of the opening. It is obvious that if the cap be so assembled with the holder as to permit of its being shifted to bring the fingerpiece either opposite or to either side of the andle, the range of utility of the article will be materially increased.

It is one of the objects of the present invention -to modify the construction of the cutoff cap in such manner as to render it feasible to shift its position to cause the finger piece of the cutofi and the discharge opening to occupy any desired position relatively to the handle, thereby to adapt the article for use equally well by either rlght or left hand people, and further to adapt the cap for ready and positive assemblage with a glass pitcher or holder and in such manner as to insure a liquid tight joint between the parts and by the prevention of the inclusion of molasses between the meeting oint of the cap and the holder to facilitate t e removal of the former when desired.

The cutoff in the patent referred to is a dished or bowed plate having an extension normally to cover the discharge opening, and a lateral arm disposed to one side of the center of the plate and secured at its free end to the rock shaft upon which the plate is mounted, the arm being disposed on the same side of theplate as that from which the cutoff projects. It has been found that this arrangement possesses certain disadvantages, one of which is the location of the attaching arm relatively to the discharge mouth.

It will be noted by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings of the said patent that there is only a single point of attachment between the cutoff and the rock-shaft and this adj acent to one terminal .of the shaft, this arrangement having been adopted on account of the disposition of the cutoff actuating spring on the other terminal of the shaft. If careful manipulation of the cutofi' be observed, the connection above described will be effective, but if the usage be careless and rou h the connection between the cutoff and shaft, is liable to be destroyed. Further, it will be seen from the above referred to figure that the arm occu ies. such position that when the holder is t' ted to permit the escape of its contents, the molasses will be forced to run over the rim and there will of course be a small amount that will adhere to the rim each time the holder is used. This will gradually accumulate and harden and mlght render the top unsanitary.

It is another object of the present invention to improve and materially strengthen the connection between the cutoff and the rock-shaft whereby ru ture between the be prevented, and further to obviate to a large extent, the retention of molasses by the cutoff.

With the above and'other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a molasses pitcher or holder, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and'in characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Fig. 1 is a view' in elevation, partly in section, of a molasses pitcher exhibiting the improvements of the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the cap or cover used in connection with the pitcher. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the cu'tofi.

Referring to the drawings, P designates a pitcher of any preferred shape and conwhich llke 'parts'due to rough han ing will practically ranged normally to close the slot 3.

"structed of any suitable material and provided with a handle H, and an exteriorlythreaded neck N.

The cap 1, which constitutes one of the essential features of the present invention, is

an approximately hemispherical structure and is provided with an escape opening 2 and a slot 3 in alinement therewith, and with a transverse extent than that shown, if found necessary or desirable.

The cars 7 are loosely engaged by a rockshaft 8, the terminals of which are rigidly secured in two arms 9 0f the cutoff, which is shown in detail in Fig. 3. This cutoff is a dished or bowed member and comprises four arms, the two arms 9 referred to, a third arm 10 that is arranged normally to close the discharge opening 2, and a fourth arm 11 ar- The cut off is so sha ed as to bear closely against the inner wall 0 the cap thus to preclude the escape of the molasses should the article be inverted accidentally, and further, the arms 10 and 11 serve to guide the cutoff and in a large measure to relieve the arms 9 from torsional strain.

Mounted upon the shaft 8 approximately I midway of its length is an arm 12, that portion embracingthe shaft being formed into an eye 13 for the purpose, the free end of the arm being engaged by a sleeve 14 forming a continuation of a finger piece 15 that projects through the slot 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Upon the shaft 8 is mounted a coiled spring 16, having one terminal 17 100 ed around the arm 12, and the other termina 18 downturned and disposed upon the flange 6 of the annulus 5, the pressure exerted by the spring upon the arm 12 serving normally to cause the members 10 and 11 to close the opening 2 and the slot 3. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that by having the arms 9 secured to the terminals of the shaft 8, and

by positioning the ears 7 in the manner shown, the greatest resistance is presented to distortion or shifting of the cutoff under the manipulation of the finger piece 15, and further that liability of separation between the parts is reduced to a minimum, thereby argely increasing the utility of the cover.

As a means for assembling the ca with the pitcher there is provided a threade collar 19 that is desi ed to engage the threads of the neck N an is provided with an inturned flange 20 to engage the shoulder 4 of the cap, thus to clamp the latter firmly in place, a gasket 21 interposed between the annulus and the upper edge of the neck N serving to secure a li uid tight joint between the arts.

Ordinarily, the finger piece and disc arge opening 2 will occupy a position substanvtlally in alinement with the handle H, but

under certain conditions it may be desired to shift the position of the opening 2 relatively to the handle to bring it at right angles thereto on either side of the pitcher, thus to adapt the article to be used by either a right or left hand erson, and to secure this result it will only e necessary to loosen the collar 19, turn the cap to the desired position and retighten the collar.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that while the improvements herein described are simple in character they will be thoroughly effective for the purposes designed and will cooperate large y to increase the utility of articles of the class described.

What is claimed is 1. A closure for vessels comprising a sub stantially hemispherical cap provided with a discharge opening and with a slot, an annulus combined with the cap and having op ositely-alined ears, a shaft loosely mounte in the ears, a cutoff conforming in contour to the walls of the cap and embodying four arms, two of which are rigidly secured to the terminals of the shaft and the others disposed normally to cover the discharge 0 ening and the slot respectively, and a cuto actuating element projecting through the slot and having its inner end assembled with the shaft.

2. A closure for vessels comprising a substantially hemispherical cap provlded with a discharge opening and with a slot, an annulus.

combined with the cap and having op ositely-alined ears, a shaft loosely mounte 1n the ears, a cutoff conforming in contour to the walls of the cap and embodying four arms, two of which are rigidly secured to the terminals of the shaft and the others disposed normally to cover the discharge open ng and the slot respectively, a cutoff actuating element projecting through the slot and having its inner end assembled with the shaft, and a spring on the shaft having one end looped around the actuating element and its other end bearing upon the annulus.

In testimony that I claim the foregomg as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two wltnesses.

VIRGIL B. NUOKOLS.

Witnesses:

J. D. STANDARD, B. B. PETRIE. 

